Operation Greenhouse Nuclear Tests "Atom Atoll" Joint Task Force 3 Enewetak Atoll 10834 (1951)

Synopsis

Atom Atoll (Report to The Armed Forces, Issue Number 147) is a short film from 1953 documenting Operation Greenhouse, a series of nuclear tests conducted on the islands of Enewetak Atoll by members of Joint Task Force 3. Members of the task force gather around a table (00:44). Aerial footage shows the islands of Enewetak Atoll. Weapon designers work on a plastic balloon that will measure the blast of a nuclear detonation (02:21). Men set up other research instruments. On Zero Island, the tower holding an atomic bomb is readied for the test (03:20). Men put on protective glasses, and then the bomb is detonated (03:48). Cargo is moved from a ship for testing operations (04:36). Men eat at a mess hall. A member of the task force operates a water pump (05:05). Landing craft and small ships help move supplies from island to island during Operation Greenhouse. Tanks are positioned specific distances from the blast point to record the heat created in each vehicle’s hull. A prototype bomb-proof roof is set up (06:20). Airplane wings and fuselage are also arranged for testing. Men are briefed about a research flight into the blast cloud. Drone aircraft are prepared to fly near the blast (07:33). Drone jets take off from the airfield and fly high above the islands (08:23). A bomb is detonated, and footage shows buildings being damaged or demolished from the blast. Men work on the instruments, such as oscilloscopes, used to measure radiation (10:31). Mice are placed into cages for…

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Details

Running time

16 minutes

Collection

Ephemeral Films

Subjects on the Internet Archive

• Stock Footage